JAPAN has agreed to send hydropower experts to assist the Government in preparing for the construction of the proposed 500 megawatt Ayago Hydropower Project.

In addition, Japan intends to support the extraction of phosphates fertilisers, the production of biofuel using the Jatropher plant, the refurbishment of the bridge in Jinja and the inftrastructural development in northern Uganda.

This was revealed at a closed meeting between Daudi Migereko, the energy minister, and Japanese ambassador K. Kato, at Amber house recently. Migereko said they also agreed on the development of Ugandaâ€™s energy resources, considered one of the most critical issues.

â€œWithout enough electricity supply, it will be impossible to industrialise, let alone modernise the country. The Government strategy is to overcome power shortage. There is a need to support the Energy Fund which the Government has created to provide funds which can reduce delay in developing power projects,â€ said Migereko.

He said the two governments signed an agreement worth $6.5m (sh10b) for the construction of rural electrification projects in Masaka and Hoima districts.

The Japanese government also agreed to participate in the implementation of the Bujagali Interconnector Project under a co-financing arrangement with the African Development Bank.

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